As 2025 bows out, we all find ourselves—almost unconsciously—reviewing what’s scarred this wretched place. Inevitably, attention turns to those wielding power, whose decisions left their mark on the year—and not in a good way.
Top-tier cock-ups, spectacular absurdities, monumental blunders. In Hollywood, the day before the Oscars, they hand out the Golden Raspberries to the worst of the worst.
This column established years ago—and continues today—its own tradition of dishing out “awards” to the talentless stars of our very own “best of the best”.
The first raspberry could only go to the most tragic event of the departing year: the catastrophic wildfire in the Limassol mountains. Awarded collectively to the Government. The toll from last July’s disaster was horrific: two dead, 130 square kilometres of scorched earth, 700 homes damaged, and total costs rocketing to the eye-watering sum of €120 million. And yet—not a single resignation, not a single sacking, not a shred of political responsibility assumed or assigned to anyone. Not even to the notorious Coordinator who’d gone on a trip to Australia!
The second booby prize goes to Assistant Attorney General Savvas Angelides. The ECHR ruling was devastating on the rape complaint case against a political figure, where the AAG had decided to suspend criminal prosecution. The Court didn’t limit itself to institutional critique—it explicitly lambasted his own conduct, characterised by sexist stereotypes and secondary victimisation of the complainant. Cyprus’s international humiliation wasn’t enough to push Mr Angelides towards resignation.
The third raspberry goes to Attorney General Giorgos Savvides. For the same case. Instead of shouldering the burden (since his Assistant couldn’t find the courage), he provided cover. He talked about “unpalatable decisions” and “orchestrated attacks.” The problem—according to him—is who’s writing the articles. Not what they’re writing. Not whether what they’re writing is true. Not whether they’re capturing the substance.
Next in line for a dishonourable mention is former Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis. Throughout the year, whilst organised crime was having a field day, he responded with statements that provoked fury. The crowning moment, though, was the government reshuffle. He was replaced at the ministry but accepted appointment to a Commissioner’s post. Glorifying the saying “from mayor to bailiff” and demonstrating that chasing a chair is utterly indispensable.
The fifth raspberry goes to the police leadership. It could’ve “won” for numerous reasons. But its “achievement” in closing the motorway so hunters could protest, light flares, and torment thousands of drivers offered a tragicomic moment beyond compare.
The next award goes to the notorious Yiannis Yiannaki. His conviction to three years’ imprisonment capped off a farcical saga that exhausted authorities and society for many years.
A spot among the awards was also secured by DISY president Annita Dimitriou with her tragicomic behaviour at Grivas’s memorial service. Last year she didn’t attend, and when asked, she answered with contempt: “We’ve got so many issues to handle and we’re going to discuss 1955 and 1821 now?” This year, though, facing panic over her party’s haemorrhaging support to ELAM, not only did she attend but gave a performance à la Martha Karua. Clad in black, embracing Mrs Elli Christodoulidou, with a mournful expression, she proceeded to the memorial. Simultaneously holding a funeral for seriousness itself.
The eighth raspberry goes to former Health Minister Michalis Damianos for the massive destruction of medicines in a state warehouse. A total of 106,000 medicine packages were destroyed, causing €880,000 in damage. Yet the ministry’s investigation report assigns not the slightest responsibility to anyone. It’s a practice that’s become gangrene in the public sector—and as long as it continues, so will the catastrophes.
The next dishonourable award goes to MP Marinos Sizopoulos. The Anti-Corruption Authority determined there’s potential violations and criminal offences, including fraud, forgery and fabrication of false documents, circulation of false documents, and conspiracy to defraud in a case involving him. Whilst he rejects the Authority’s findings and declares himself innocent, he refuses to waive his parliamentary immunity so the case can go to court and the truth be established.
The final golden raspberry is awarded to all former Transport Ministers from the 2004-2014 period regarding the TAKATA airbag affair. Marios Dimitriades, Efthymios Flourentzou, Nikos Nikolaidis, Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Maria Malachtou-Pamballi, and Haris Thrasou testified before the Investigative Committee. Not one knew anything, not one had been briefed!
There were many other candidates. But the “awards” are limited to 10 each year. We close once again with the prophetic verses of the great Montis: “What fall awaits us now / how much further is there left to fall?”
TOMORROW: This column will present the real awards to the genuinely Best of the Best of the year!
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